cleal



I (No Model.) 2- Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. P. GLEAL.

CASH REGISTER AND INDICATOR.

No. 555282. Patented Feb. 25, 1896.

IIIIIIIII! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH P. CLEAL, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTERCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CASH REGISTER SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters P AND INDICATOR.

atent No. 555,282, dated February 25, 1896.

Application filed December 26, 1895. $erial No. '73,239. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JosEPH P. CLEAL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State 5 of Ohio,have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Cash-Registers, ofwhich the following is a description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates more particularly to cash-registers of that classin which the operating-keys may be successively coupled or connected toa universal bar or frame common to all of the keys and adapted to bemoved by the operation of any one of them, so that a number of keys maybe successively attached to said universal bar and be thereby set, as itwere, and the operation of all of them be then completed by giving saiduni- 2o versal bar a full movement-as, for instance,

by fully depressing or completing the operation of any one of the setkeys. The provision of means for thus permitting the successiveconnection of tlie keys to the universal bar or frame renders itunnecessary to simultaneously depress all of the keys which may berequired at a given operation to indicate and register the desiredamount and permits any required combination of the keys to be operatedwith one hand, if desired. A practical objection has been found in theuse of these machines, however, in the fact that the keys were liable tobe accidentally or inadvertently slightly depressed and therebyconnected to the universal bar, as by the clerk or some one elsetouching the keys with his hand or arm without intending to operate anyof them, or by some object being allowed to strike the keys or rest uponthem, in which case it was not possible to detach the depressed keysfrom the bar and nothing could be done but to complete their operationand indicate and register their values. So, too, if in operating themachine the wrong key should be inadvertently slightly depressed or set,the mistake could not be corrected, and the amount represented by thakey would have to be indicated and registered whether it corresponded tothe amount of the sale or not.

To obviate these difficulties and objections my invention consistsprimarily in the provision of a setting device or means independent ofthe operating-keys, which cooperates with the universal bar and thecouplingv or connecting devices for connecting it with the 5 5 keys insuch manner that the danger of any inadvertent or accidental connectionof the keys to such bar is removed, and by which it is also renderedpossible, after a key has been connected to such bar, to disconnect itand 6:) permit it to return to normal position without completing itsoperation or registering its value. The universal bar and coupling orconnecting devices are normally in such position or condition that thekeys cannot be 6 5 readily connected to such bar, or at least so thatthere is practically no danger of their being accidentally orinadvertently connected to it. \Vhen a sale is made which requires theoperation of several keys, in order to properly indicate and registerthe amount of it the special setting means which I have provided isfirst operated to set the universal bar and connecting devices or putthem in condition or position for the keys to be readily 7 3 connectedto the bar, and then the proper keys to indicate and register the amountof the sale are slightly depressed and thereby connected to the bar,after which the operation is completed by fully depressing or com- 83pleting the operation of any one of them. Inasmuch as this preliminarysetting operation, preparatory to the setting of the keys to beoperated, involves a positive voluntary act on the part of the clerk itfollows that the lia- 85 bility of the keys being accidentally orinadvertently connected to the universal bar is removed. Again, afterthe universal bar and connecting devices have been set or put intocondition for the operations of the keys, by the operation of thespecial setting means, and after one or more keys have been connected tosuch bar, the bar and connecting devices may be released and permittedto return to normal position, and the connected keys be thusdisconnected from the bar and likewise returned to normal positionwithout indicating or registering anything. In this manner, when, by amistake, the clerk depresses and sets the wrong key he may correct themistake 10o by releasing that key and any others thatmay have beenpreviously set permitting them to return to normal position.

Having now indicated the general nature of my invention, I will proceedto describe the particular embodiment of it, which has been illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a verticalsection of the operating-keys, universal bar, and indicatin g mechanismof a well-known form of cashregister having my invention applied to itand with the parts in normal position; Fig 2, a corresponding view withthe parts in the position they occupy after the special setting meanshas been operated to put the universal bar and connecting devices incondition for the keys to be connected to the bar; Fig. 3, a view of theparts shown in Fig. 1. and in the same position, but looking at themfrom the opposite side of the machine just within the right-hand sideplate of the framework; Fig. :L, a vertical section looking in the samedirection as in Fig. 3 and showing the complete-stroke mechanism for theuniversal bar and keys which is omitted from Fig. 3; and Fig. 5, adetail view showing a modified construction and arrangement of the partsand a locking device for the universal bar.

The same letters of reference are used to indicate identical parts inall the figures.

Under the construction illustrated in the drawings the operating-keysconsist of the levers A fulcrumed 011 the horizontal rod .13 at thefront of the machine and resting at their rear ends upon the cross-bar(J of the framework in the lower ends of vertical slots in theguide-plate D and bearing at their front ends the usual numberedfinger-buttons E. Resting upon the rear ends of the levers A are thevertically-guided indicator-rods F, carrying the indicators G at theirupper ends and provided with the collars H, whose beveled rear sides cooperate with the usual supporting bar or wing I in the well-known 1n ann er.

The universal bar or frame of the machine consists of a bar J, extendingtransversely across the series of lovers A a short distance in front oftheir rear ends and hung by side arms K at its opposite ends to the sideplates L of the framework at M, the front ends of the arms K being inthe present instance connected by an integral, cross-bar N, the bars Jand N and side arms K forming a single integral frame pivotallysupported at M. The bar J is provided along the lower edge of its rearside with a rearwardly-projecting flange 0, whose rear edge rests uponthe upper sides of the levers A. Immediately in rear of the flange O thelevers A are provided with the vertical extensions 1, having therecesses or slots Q adapted to co-operate with the flange 0 and havingalso their forward faces curved in approximately the arc of the circledescribed by the rear edge of the flange O, as is common in machines ofthis character, the

curved front edges of the extensions 1 terminating at their lower endsin the points (Z at the mouths of the slots Q.

Under the construction above described, when the front end of anykey-lever is de pressed and its rear end lifted the flange O, as itrises with the rear end of the lever, will move rearward and enter theslot Q in the lever, thereby connecting the lever to the universal barJ. If the front ends of several levers be depressed at once, their rearends will all become connected to the bar J in this manner, so that theoperation of all of them may be completed by fully depressing any one ofthem. \Vith this construction alone, however, it would be necessary forthe front ends of all of the operated lovers to be depressed atthe sametime, since they could not be successively coupled to the bar J, becausea movement of any lever sufficient to connect it to said bar would movethe bar into position to lock the keys which remained at rest.

For the purpose of permitting the successive connect-ion ot' a number ofkeys to the universal bar there has heretofore been provided in machinessuch as that illustrated in the drawings one or more thin plates It,resting upon the flange 0 of the bar J and held thereon by screwspassing through slots in the plates and pressed rearward by suitablesprings and yieldinglyheld in such position with their rear edgesprojecting beyond. the rear edge of the flange 0. Under thisconstruction the bar J may be lifted by depress ing the front end of oneof the levers A or otherwise until the rear edge of the plates 0 standin the path of travel of the lower forward points (2 of the extensions.l of the levers, as seen in Fig. 2, without locking the levers frommovement, as would be the case if the flange 0 of the bar J stood in thepath of such points, since whenever the rear end of any lever is thenlifted the lower end of its extension P will simply press forward theplate R with which it contacts and pass it, and the plate will thereuponspring rearward and catch under the point d of the extension and thelever be thereby connected to the universal bar. To permit suchsuccessive connection of the keys to the universz'tl. bar without thenecessity of holding one key slightly depressed for the purpose ofmaintaining the bar in the position shown .in Fig. 2 while the otherkeys were being depressed and connected to it, suitable means wereemployed for holding the bar in such slightlylifted position after beingmoved thereto. In Fig. 4 is shown one common form of means for thatpurpose, where it will be seen that the side arm Kat the left-hand endof the bar J has pivoted to it the double-toothed pawl S, whichco-operates with the curved rack T at its rear end and at its front endwith a spring-latch U. When the bar J has been lifted far enough for thelower tooth oi. the pawl S to engage the lowermost notch in the rack T,the bar will be held in such elevated position by the engagement of suchtooth with such notch, and cannot be re-' turned to normal positionwithout first lifting it high enough for the lower tooth of the pawl tocontact with the projection V at the middle of the rack and shift thepawl to disengage the lower tooth from the rack and engage its uppertooth therewith, as is common in these machines. With the provision ofthis means it was only necessary to lift the bar J high enough for thelower tooth of the pawl to engage the lower notch of the rack in orderto support the bar in position for any desired number of keys to besuccessively connected to it; but after any key had been connected to itit was impossible to disconnect such key from it, and nothing could bedone but to complete the full movement of the key and bar.

Another difficulty was that if the first key depressed should happen tobe moved far enough to lift the flange O of the bar J into the upwardpath of the points d of the extensions P of the key-levers remaining atrest all of the latter would become locked by the flange 0 and only theone key could be operated. Considerable care had therefore to beexercised in slightly depressing all of the keys excepting the last oneto avoid moving them too far and thereby preventing the operation of anyothers in the manner described.

Having now described so much of the structure shown in the accompanyingdrawings as is old, I will next describe the part thereof which is newand illustrates my invention.

Hung at some point upon the fulcrum-rod B of the key-levers, in thisinstance at the extreme right-hand side of the series, is a speciallever W in the form of a bell-crank, its horizontal arm extendingforward of the fulcrum -rod B and corresponding to the front ends of theother levers, while its vertical arm X extends downward beneath the rodB. Pivoted to the lower end of the arm X is a rearwardly-extending armor bar Y, whose rear end fits in a guideway at Z upon the front edge ofthe cross-bar G of the framework, so that the arm is free to slidebackward and forward when the front end of the lever WV is depressed andraised. A spring A connected to the arm Y yieldingly holds it and thelever W in and returns them to normal position. Secured upon the side ofthe arm Y, in front of the cross-bar C, is a plate B, havingits rear endformed into a hook adapted to pass un der the front edge of thecross-bar C, for a purpose hereinafter explained. The upper edge of therear end of the arm Y is cut away to form an inclined elevation at a,the upper end of which is connected with the approximately horizontalsurface I; of the arm Y in front of it by an abrupt shoulder c. The barJ or its flange O has depending from it a finger D, whose lower endnormally rests upon the upper edge of the bar Y immediately in rear ofor against the inclined surface a, with the result that whenever the barY is slid rearward and the inclined surface forced under the finger Dthe bar J will be lifted, and as the lower end of the finger D is forcedupward over the point at the upper end of the surface a and drops infront of the shoulder c and rests upon the surface I) the bar J will Ibe supported in the position shown in Fig. 2, the engagement of thelower end of the finger D with the shoulder c preventing the arm Y beingdrawn forward by the spring A and the parts thereby released andpermitted to drop to normal position. In this position of the parts, asbefore explained, any desired number of the key-levers may besuccessively slightly depressed and their hooks caught upon the plates Rresting upon the flange O of the bar J and the operation of all of themcompleted by giving the bar J a full move ment by fully depressing thefront end of some one of the levers or otherwise.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 and with one or morelevers A connected to the universal bar it is possible to disconnectsuch lever or levers from the bar by slightly further depressing thefront end of one of such levers just sufficiently to lift the bar Jslightly and disengage the lower end of the finger D from the shoulder cand permit the spring A to draw the arm Y forward without lifting thebar J high enough to cause the lower tooth of the pawl S in Fig. t toengage the lower notch in the rack T. The bar J being thus freed fromits support by the arm Y will thereupon immediately drop back to normalposition, and the operated or set keys will return with it and becomedisconnected from it.

As heretofore stated, in the use of these machines as they have existedwithout my present invention the universal bar has been supported in setposition by the engagement of the pawl of the complete-stroke mechanismwith the rack thereof. In such cases where a complete-stroke mechanism,such as that shown in Fig. 4, has been employed the lower half of therack has been provided with more teeth than are shown in Fig. 4t, sothat it was not necessary to lift the bar J so high as would benecessary in Fig. 4 in order for it to be caught and held in setposition. As has also been explained, the bar J was lifted to thisposition by depressing the front end of the first key-lever operated theexact dis .tance necessary to so lift the bar to position for additionalkeys to be connected to it, without lifting it far enough to cause itsflange O to lock the remaining keys. The difficulty with thisconstruction and operation was, as has been stated, twofold. In thefirst place, too great care had to be exercised in slightly depressingthe first key in order that the universal bar might be lifted to andsupported in set position, yet not lifted high enough to lock theremaining keys, and, in the second place, after any keys had once beenconnected to the bar it was impossible to disconnect them therefromwithout fullyopcrating them and registering their values. The provisionof my present invention for permittin disconnection of such keys hasbeen explained above, and its provision for overcoming the otherdifficulty mentioned may be now'described.

Inasmuch as a complete stroke of the special setting-key \V servesmerely to lift the universal bar into set position it follows that nospecial care need be exercised in operating the setting device in orderto prevent the bar being lifted high enough to engage the pawl and rackof the complete-stroke mechanism and thereby lock the keys fromoperation. Indeed, it is not possible by any ordinary operation of thisspecial setting device to do anything else than properlyset the bar forthe connection of the keys to it, and even if the special key lV bequickly or violently depressed the distance which the universal bar ispositively lifted by the inclined shoulder a is so short that there islittle danger of it being carried too far by the momentum imparted toit; but to absolutely prevent any excessive movement being given it bydepressing the key \V with extreme violence I provide the setting-bar Ywith an upward extension or arm E, whose upper end projects rearwardlyand is adapted when the bar Y is moved rearwardly to catch over a stud Fupon the side arm K of the universal bar, as seen in Fig. 2. Inasmuch asthe hooked plate l3 upon the under side of the bar Y at the same timecatches under the fixed crossbar 0 of the framework it follows that theuniversal bar is positively locked from excessive upward movement solong as the setting device remains in rearward position, as in Fig. Theresult is that no matter how quickly or violently the setting-bar Y maybe forced rearward the upward movement of the universal bar will bearrested and limited by the contact of the stud F with the arm E.

The stud F and arm E serves a further purpose in. that when the bar J,by the subsequent operations of the keys, is lifted from the positionshown in Fig. 2, far enough for the lower end of the finger D to clearthe shoulder c the stud F will contact with the under side of theextremerearend of the arm E and positively start the setting-bar Yforward toward normal position, thus aiding the spring A in resettingthe parts.

Under the general. construction illustrated in the drawings and abovedescribed it will be understood that the double-toothed pawl andeo-operatin g devices of Fig. 4 serve merely as a complete-strokemechanism to insure the full movements of the parts after they have beenmovcdbeyond the position shown in Fig. 2, and do not have anything to dowith the mechanism for successively coupling or connecting thekey-levers to the universal. bar, and that in order that they may notinterfere with the release in the manner described, of keys set bymistake or inadvertance, the adjustment of the parts is such that thelower teeth of the pawl S will not engage the lowermost notch in therack until after the universal bar has been moved upward beyond thehighest position to which it is moved by the setting device. Some of theadvantages of my invention may, however, be realized by the use of thespecial setting device merely for the purpose of setting the universalbar preparatory to the connection of the keys with it, without regard tothe provision forsupporting the bar in set position by means of thesetting device itself, and without regard to the provision forpermitting the release of set keys after they have been connected to thebar, as where the wrong key has been inadvertently set. Thus, forinstance, the shoulder c on the setting-bar Y might be omitted, and thebar Y with its inclined surface a be employed sim ply to lift the bar Jto set position, and the teeth upon the lower half of the rack in Fig. tbe extended farther downward so that such lifting of the universal barto set position would cause the pawl S to engage one of the lowernotches in the rack and thereby support the bar in set position. Thisarrangement would not permit the release of any keys which mightthereafter be connected to the bar, but it would yield the otheradvantages of my invention in that the universal bar would always bemoved to exactly the proper position by the operation of the specialsettin device. and it would be impossible to move it too far and therebylock the keys, as there has always been danger of doing in the machinesas heretofore constructed, where the lirst key opera-ted served as thesetting device for the bar.

I11 Fig. 5 I have illustrated a modified construction or arrangement ofthe setting devices, where the bar Y with its inclined. shoulder aserves merely to lift the universal bar to set position and is withdrawnby the spring A as soon as the special setting-key is released, andhence does not serve to support the bar in set position, the pawl andrack of the complete-stroke mechanism being employed to support the barin set position, as above described. So, too, in Fig. 5 provision ismade for normally locking the universal bar in its initial position, thelocking device being controlled by the setting device, so that the baris released only when the setting device is operated to lift it to setposition. With this provision for normally locking the bar it isimpossible to set it by depressing any one of the regular keys of themachine in the first instance, and it can only be set by means of thespecial device provided for that purpose.

Referring now to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the bar Y is provided uponits upper edge with an inclined or rounded surface a, corresponding tothat in the other views, which rides underthe finger D depending fromthe universal bar, to lift the latter to set position, but has noshoulder c to engage said finger and hold the bar Y in rearward positionto support the bar J in elevated position,

and the result is that the bar Y is drawn forward by the spring A assoon as the settingkey is released. The upward movement given the bar J,however, is sufiicient to engage the pawl of the completestrokemechanism with the rack thereof, which serves to support the bar in setposition and permit the keys to be successively coupled in the mannerbefore explained. It will also be seen that the bar Y has pivoted to ita pawl G, whose hook-shaped upper end catches over the plate R upon theflange O of the bar J, when the latter and the setting-bar Y are innormal position, and thus serves to lock the bar J in initial positionand prevent operation of any of the key-levers A. Vhen the specialsetting-key W is depressed and the bar Y moved rearward the pawl G isdisengaged from the plate R and permits the bar J to be lifted as theshoulder a rides under the finger D. WVhen the setting device isreleased and drawn forward again by the spring A the beveled nose of thepawl is brought beneath the plate R and flange O of the bar J, so thatasthe latter returns to initial position at theend of the operation of themachine the plate R will ride over the beveled .nose of the pawl andcatch under its hook again and the bar J thereby becomes relocked innormal, position. In the absence of this locking device it has sometimesbeen found possible in machines of this class to strike the front end ofone of the key-levers A such a sharp quick blow as to throw the bar Jupward high enough to cause its flange O to look all of the keys,including the one to which such blow was applied, the bar J at suchoperation being thrown ahead of the key at the beginning of its movementowing to the character of the blow upon the key, so that even such keywould not become connected to the bar. In this manner an evil-disposedclerk or a stranger was able to throw the machine out of order, sinceafter the bar J had been thrown in the manner above described intoposition to lock all of the keys (beingheld in such position by the rackand pawl of the complete-stroke device) not one of the keys could beoperated and the machine could not be used until its casing was openedand an instrument inserted to move the bar upward to its limit ofmovement, whereupon the complete-stroke device would permit it to dropback to initial position and thereby release the keys and permit them tobe operated. The provision of the locking device above described notonly insures the proper setting of the universal bar by the operation ofthe setting device, but also prevents the machine being thrown out oforder in the manner just explained.

In Fig. 5 the upper end of the stop-arm E is so shaped that, while itserves to arrest the upward movement of the bar J in the same manner asdoes the arm E in the other views, it does not perform the additionalfunction of aiding the spring A in resetting the arm Y, as does the armE in the construction as described.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. In a cash-registeror analogous machine, the combination, with a series of keys, a movablebar common to said keys, and means for connecting the keys to said bar,of means independent of the keys for setting the movable bar andconnecting means, or putting them in position or condition, tofacilitate the connection of the keys to the bar, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

2. In a cash-register or analogous machine, the combination, with aseries of keys, a movable bar common to said keys, and means forconnecting the keys to said bar, of means independent of the keys forputting the movable bar and connecting devices into position orcondition to facilitate the connection of the keys to the bar, saidmeans permitting the release of a key after it has been connected to thebar, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar requiringto be moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connectionof the keys to it, of special setting means, independent of the keys,for so moving or setting the bar, for the purpose described.

4. The combination, with a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar requiringto be moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connectionof the keys to it, of special setting means, independent of the keys,for so moving or setting the bar, and a stop controlled by such settingmeans to prevent excessive movement of the bar, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

5. The combination, with a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar requiringto be moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connectionof the keys to it, of special setting means, independent of the keys,for so moving or setting the bar, and an arm or platemoved by thesetting means into the path of the bar, to arrest the same and preventexcessive movement thereof, substantially as and for the purposedescribed. 7

6. The combination, with a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar requiringto be moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connectionof the keys, of means independent of the keys for so moving the bar toand releasably supporting or holding it in set position, for the purposedescribed. U

7. The combination, with a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar IIOrequiring to be moved from normal position in order to facilitate theconnection of the keys to it, of a special setting device co-operatingwith the bar to move it to set position, a spring for returning thesetting device to normal position, and means for siqpporting the bar inset position, for the purpose described.

8. The combination, with a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar requiringto be moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connectionof the keys to it, of a special setting device co-operating with the barto move it to set position, a spring for returning the setting device tonormal position, and means for supporting the bar in set position andreleasing it and permitting disconnection of the connected key or keys,for the purpose described.

9. The combination, with a series of keys, a movable barcommon to saidkeys and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar requiring tobe moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connection ofthe keys to it, of a special setting device for moving the bar to andsupporting it in set position, and a spring for returning the settingdevice to normal posit-ion, for the purpose described.

10. The combination,with a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar requiringto be moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connectionof the keys to it, of a special setting device co'opcrating with the barto move it to and releasably support it in set position, and a springfor returning the setting device to normal po sition, for the purposedescribed.

11. The combination,with a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar requiringto be moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connectionof the keys to it, of a special setting device for moving the bar to andsupporting it in set position, a spring tending to return the settingdevice to normal position, and means for holding the setting device inoperative position and adapted to release it upon striking a set-key, topermit its spring to return it to normal inoperative position, for thepurpose described.

1 2. The combinatiomwith a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar requiringto be moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connectionof the keys to it, of a special setting device for moving the bar to andsupporting it in set position, a spring tending to return the settingdevice to normal position, and means whereby the bar when in setposition holds the setting device from return movement, and when movedfrom set position releases the setting device and permits the springtoreturn it, for the purpose described.

13. The combinatiomwith a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar requiringto be moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connectionof the keys to it, of a special setting device for moving the bar to andsupporting it in set position, a spring tending to return the settingdevice to normal position, and a shoulder or projection upon the settingdevice co-operating with the movable bar to cause the lat ter to holdthe former in position to support the bar in set position, substantiallyas described.

14. The combination,with a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar requiringto be moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connectionof the keys to it, of a special setting device for moving the bar to andsupporting it in set position, a spring tending to return the settingdevice to normal position, and a shoulder or projection upon the settingdevice co-operating with the movable bar to cause the latter to hold theformer in position to support the bar in set position and permitting aslight movement of the bar from set position to re lease the setting andsupporting device and permit the spring to withdraw it, substantially asdescribed.

15. The combination of a series of key-levers, a movable bar commonthereto and pivotally support-ed above their rear ends, means forconnecting the levers to said bar, a reciprocating setting memberadapted to slightly lift said bar when moved in one direction, means forsupporting the bar in lifted position, and a spring for returning thesetting member to normal position, substantially as described.

16. The combination of a series of key-levers, a movable bar commonthereto and pivotally supported above their rear ends, means foreonnectin g the levers to said bar, a reciprocatin g setting memberadapted to slightly lil't said bar when moved in one direction andprovided with a shoulder or projection adapted to be engaged by said barand to be disengaged from it when the bar is slightly lifted from setposition by striking a set key or otherwise, and a spring for returningthe setting member to normal position, substantially as described.

17. The combination, with a series of keys, and a movable bar or framecommon to said keys, and moved. by the operation of any one of them, ofa locking device for locking said bar in normal position, and means forreleasing the bar and slightly moving it from normal position andsupporting it in such moved position, substantially as described.

18. The combination, with a series of keys, and a movable bar commonthereto and moved by the operation of any one of them, of alookreleasing said bar and slightly moving it from normal position,substantially as described.

19. The combination, with a series of keys, and a movable bar commonthereto an d moved by the operation of any one of them, of a lookingdevice for locking said bar in normal position, a special key andconnections for releasing the bar and slightly moving it from normalposition, and means for supporting the bar in moved position,substantially as de scribed.

20. The combination, with a series of keys, and amovable bar commonthereto and moved by the operation of any one of them, of a lookingdevice for locking said bar in normal position, and a special key andconnections for releasing said bar and slightly moving it from normalposition and supporting it in moved position, substantially asdescribed.

21. The combination, with a series of keys, and a movable bar common tosaid keys and moved by the operation of any one of them, of a lockin gdevice for locking the bar in normal position, a reciprocating memberadapted to release the bar when moved in one direction and to slightlylift and support the bar and be engaged thereby, and a spring forreturning said member to normal position when disengaged from themovable bar, substantially as described.

22. The combination, with a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting thekeys to the bar, said bar requiring tobe moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connection ofthe keys to it, of a locking device for locking the bar in normalposition, means for releasing the bar and slightly moving it from normalposition, and means for supporting the bar in moved position,substantially as and for the purpose described.

23. The combination,with a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar requiringto be moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connectionof the keys to it, of a special key and connections for releasing thebar and slightly moving it from normal position, and means forsupporting it in moved position, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

24. The combination, with a series of keys, a movable bar common to saidkeys, and means for connecting the keys to the bar, said bar requiringto be moved from normal position in order to facilitate the connectionof the keys to it, of a reciprocating member adapted when moved in onedirection to release the bar and slightly move it from normal positionand support it in such moved position, and a spring for returning saidmemher to normal position when disengaged from the movable bar,substantially as and for the purpose described.

25. The combination of the key-levers A,the universal bar J overlyingsaid levers and moved by the operation of any one of them, thereciprocating arm or bar Y adapted to lift the bar J when movedrearward, and provided with a shoulder or projection, as 0, cooperatingwith the bar J or a projection thereon, and the spring A for resettingthe arm Y, substantially as described.

26. The combination of the key-levers A having the extensions P providedwith the slots Q, the universal bar J overlying the keys in front of theslots Q and provided with the flange O, the spring-pressed plate Rresting upon the flange O and projecting beyond its rear edge, thereciprocating setting arm orbar Y adapted to lift the bar J when movedrear ward, means for supporting the bar J in such lifted position, andthe spring A for resetting the arm Y, substantially as described.

27. The combination of the key-levers A having the extensions P providedwith the slots Q, the universal bar J overlying the keys in front of theslots Q and provided with the flange O, the spring-pressed plate Rresting upon the flange O and projecting beyond its rear edge, thereciprocating setting arm or bar Y adapted to lift the bar J when it ismoved in one direction, and provided with a shoulder or projection, asc, co-operating with the bar J or a projection thereon, and the spring Afor yieldingly holding the arm Y in and returning it to normal positionsubstantially as described.

28. The combination of the key-levers A having the extensions P providedwith the slots Q, the universal bar J overlying the keys in front of theslots Q and provided with the flange O, the spring-pressed plate Rresting upon the flange O and projecting-beyond its rear edge, thereciprocating setting arm or bar Y adapted to lift the bar J When it ismoved rearward, and provided with a shoulder or projection, as c,co-operating with the bar J or a projection thereon, the bell-cranklever W for actuating the arm Y, and the resetting-spring A,substantially as described.

29. The combination of the key-levers A having the extensions P providedwith the slots Q, the cross-bar J overlying the rear ends of the leversin front of the extensions P and provided with the flange O, thespring-pressed plate R resting upon the flange O and projecting beyondits rear edge, the reciprocating arm Y provided with therearwardly-facing inclined surface or beveled shoulder a, and the abruptforwardly-facing shoulder c, the pendent projection or finger D upon thebar J adapted to co-operate with the shoulders at and c, the bell-crankleverWfor actuating the setting-arm Y, and the resetting-spring A,substantially as described.

30. The combination of the key-levers A,the cross-bar J overlying saidlevers and moved by the operation of any one of them, and thereciprocating arm Y adapted to lift the bar J when moved rearward andprovided with the stop-arm E co-operating with the bar J to preventexcessive movement thereof, substantially as described.

31. The combination of the key-levers A,the cross-bar J overlying saidlevers and moved by the operation of any one of them, the re ciproeatingarm Y adapted to slightly l itt said bar when moved rearward, means forsupportin g the bar in lifted position, and the stop-arm E moving withthe arm Y and cooperating with the bar J to prevent excessive movementthereof, substantially as described.

32. The combination of the key-levers A,the cross-bar J overlying saidlevers and moved by the operation of any one of them, the reciprocatingarm Y adapted to slightly lift said bar when moved rearward and providedwith a shoulder or projection, as e, eo-operating with the bar or aprojection thereon, the stoparm E moving with the arm Y and co-operatingwith the barJ, and the resetting-spring A for the arm Y.

The combination of the key-levers A having the extensions P providedwith the slots Q, the cross-bar J overlying the levers and provided withthe flange O in front of the slots Q, the spring-pressed plate R restingupon the flange O and projecting beyond its rear edge, the reciprocatingsetting-ar1n Y adapted to lift the bar J as it is moved rca-rward andprovided with a shoulder or projection co-operating with said bar toprevent return movement of the setting -arm, the hooked plate B securedto the arm Y and adapted to cooperate with a fixed member, as O, the armE also secured to the settingarm Y and adapted to co-operate with a studor projection 1 upon the bar J or its supporting-arm, the bell-cranklever XV for actuating the arm Y, and the resetting-spring A,substantially as described.

34. The combination of the key-levers A,the cross-bar J overlying thesame and moved by the operation of any one of them, the reciprocatingarm Y adapted to lift the bar J when moved in one direction, and thelocking-pawl G eo-operating with the bar J and with the setting-arm Y,normallylocking the bar J and moved to release it by the arm Y, substarrtially as described.

35. The combination of the key-levers l ,the cross-bar J overlying thesame and moved by the operation of any one of them, the reciproeatingarm Y adapted to lift the bar J when moved in one direction, thelocking-pawl (:r" co-operating with the bar J and arm "1", normallylocking the bar and moved by the arm Y to release it, and meansTorsnpporting the bar J in lifted position, substantially as do scribed.

36. The combination of the key-levers ;\,1 he cross-bar J overlying thesame and moved by the operation of any one of them, the reciprocatingarm Y adapted to slightly lit t said bar when moved in one direction andprovided with a shoulder or projection, as c, co-operating with the baror a projection thereon, the resetting-spring A for the arm Y, and thelocking-pawl G normally locking the bar J and moved by the arm Y torelease it, substantially as described.

2-37. The combination of the key-levers A, the cross-bar J overlying thesame and moved by the operation of any one of them, means for connectingthe levers to said bar, the reciprocating arm Y adapted to slightly litt the bar when moved :in one direction, means for supporting the bar inlifted position, and the locking-pawl G co-operating with the bar tolock it in normal position and moved by the arm Y to release it,substantially as described.

JOSEPH 1. C'Llfiirl Witnesses:

ALVAN MAoAULEv, PEARL N. SIGLER.

